Christmas Best

TV talent show winner Le'Andria Johnson quickly follows her gospel chart-topping debut album The Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson with this seasonal EP. On its half-dozen tracks, she sounds like she's still competing and being asked to perform in a different style each week. Working with arrangers W. Timothy Bailey Jr., Jamecia Bennett, and Andre Washington, she conceives new melodies for "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," both of which are given hip-hop treatments as the singer indulges in enough vocal embellishment to suggest Patti LaBelle. On the other hand, "O Holy Night" is given a more traditional and reverent setting, and Johnson sounds appropriately restrained. Then, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" arrives with a smooth jazz chart heavily featuring Kenn Hollman's saxophone, and Johnson turns into a jazz singer, her performance full of scatting and instrument-like sounds. Even in this brief collection, then, she demonstrates the versatility that made her a winner on BET's Sunday Best on Christmas Best.